Re: Some thinking around the orientation discussion

Added to WIKI

https://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/mobile-a11y-tf/wiki/Proposed_revision_of_3.4.1

Cheers,
David MacDonald



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On Thu, May 5, 2016 at 12:14 PM, Patrick H. Lauke <redux@splintered.co.uk>
wrote:

> Just before I forget, some stream of consciousness (probably to be added
> to the wiki).
>
> Problem is twofold:
>
> * content that expects a certain aspect ratio/orientation to function
> (e.g. a page which "wants" user to view it in landscape - if user has a
> portrait aspect ratio, all they get is a "hey, resize your window / tilt
> your device into landscape mode" message)
>
> * content which goes a step further and locks/forces a particular aspect
> ratio/orientation (possible in native and, with proposals like
> https://drafts.csswg.org/css-device-adapt/#orientation-desc, also for web
> content)
>
> While all users are potentially affected by these, certain users groups
> with disabilities are particularly affected as they can't easily just "turn
> their device" (thinking of users with a fixed tablet attached to a
> wheelchair, in landscape mode only).
>
> For web content, desktop browsers don't currently honour any of the device
> adaptation / viewport directives - this is currently only an issue on
> "mobile" (phone/tablet) devices. It's possible this distinction may fall
> away in future (indeed, under certain conditions, even desktop browsers
> take hints from viewport directives (as is the case with IE/Edge in Windows
> "metro"/"modern" mode when using split screen view, which picks up on some
> viewport stuff [don't have the details handy just now])
>
> The more naive "check for aspect ratio width/height and show a
> 'resize/tilt' message" situations will affect desktop users as much as
> mobile/tablet users.
>
> In essence, we'd want to say: let users experience your content/use your
> site/app regardless of their aspect ratio/orientation, as not everybody can
> easily change window size/orientation.
>
> Simplest way to achieve this: don't fight the browser; using responsive
> approaches to then make your content look/work great regardless of
> orientation/aspect ratio is not necessarily tied to this - it's an
> optional/extra. This should be primarily about NOT locking users out
> completely. whether the stuff then works well in both portrait and
> landscape is more of a usability issue.
>
> Another sufficient technique would then be the "mechanism" as in "provide
> a switch, or setting in an options dialog, or similar".
>
> P
> --
> Patrick H. Lauke
>
> www.splintered.co.uk | https://github.com/patrickhlauke
> http://flickr.com/photos/redux/ | http://redux.deviantart.com
> twitter: @patrick_h_lauke | skype: patrick_h_lauke
>
>
>